In this week’s episode, Sebastian Dreher, the managing director of Dohler Ventures U.S., discussed the firm’s funding philosophy and why he believes that investing in emerging brands is more “art than science.” He also spoke about how he evaluates scalable innovation, why category dynamics are crucial to Dohler’s investment strategy, and why great founders are also great fundraisers.
Speaking in June at BevNET Live Summer 2019 in New York City, Weller co-founder John Simmons shared lessons and learnings from his experiences as a CBD pioneer, including how other cannabis product categories have informed the brand’s strategy, how retailers and distributors are looking at infused products, and the process Weller followed to define its platform.
Mother co-founders Allison and Stephen Ellsworth said Rohan Oza, who took a 25% stake in the company in exchange for his individual investment, arranged meetings between Mother and CAVU shortly after filming Shark Tank. In February the brand secured additional financial backing from the firm, but did not announce the deal until this week.
In this month's spirits gallery, we highlight a handful of the notable new releases from the past month, including a blend of four Kentucky straight bourbons from Bardstown Bourbon Co., the debut of bespoke California whiskey maker Wolves, and the U.S. debut of British-inspired rum Admiral Rodney.
California Kills Cancer Warning Label for Coffee; Food Waste Brands a ‘Booming Business’; Cuvée Coffee Creates Fake Influencer; Walmart Prepares to Launch Home Grocery Delivery Service; JAB Wrestles with its Nazi Past
Being a challenger means not only having big ideas, but knowing how to grow from a startup brand to true scalability. For Vitaminwater and BodyArmor co-founder Mike Repole, this means being “patiently aggressive,” staying on your toes, and setting ambitious goals-- like becoming the top-selling sports drink by 2025.
Carlos Ponce is the co-founder and CEO of UbU Beverages, a company that offers sparkling functional tonics without any sugar, sweeteners or caffeine. The brand’s energy and hemp tonics deliver antioxidants, prebiotics and electrolytes, aiming to serve the active Gen X consumer.
In pioneering innovations -- including a text message-based ordering platform and a smartphone operated vending machine -- for his functional beverage brand Dirty Lemon, Zak Normandin, CEO and founder of Iris Nova, has leveraged technology to bring a new generation of tech and health savvy consumers a different kind of drinking experience.
Yayaya is a recently launched line of beverages made with yaupon, which is, unlike traditional tea, an ingredient that is grown in North America. The brand has launched with six functional flavors that are packaged in 14 oz. glass bottles.
![In the Courtroom: Outlaw Beverage Denied Preliminary Injunction in A Shoc Case [Updated]](https://dg6qn11ynnp6a.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/17175337/AdrenalineShoc_970-150x150.jpg)
In this edition of In the Courtroom, Outlaw Beverage co-founder Lance Collins faces a lawsuit from his old company over the design, branding and formula for the forthcoming Adrenaline Shoc (A Shoc) line. Meanwhile, La Croix is targeted by a former employee over safety claims, and Fairlife continues to grapple with the fallout from the release of a viral video showing animal abuse at its flagship farm.
Speaking at BevNET Live Summer 2019, Mike Messersmith, U.S. general manager for Oatly, explained how he navigated the company out of this crisis and got production up to scale within a year. In this video, Messersmith offers his experience with Oatly as an example of how a commitment to transparency and communication helped the brand land on its feet without losing out to the competition.
In a wide-ranging interview, Siggi’s founder Siggi Hilmarsson chronicled his journey from selling his Icelandic-style yogurt on the streets of Manhattan through to the creation and eventual acquisition of the brandin 2018. As part of our conversation, he explained why he urges entrepreneurs to “plan for success,” the important role basketball plays in his life, and why he’s a “maybe, sort-of perfectionist.” This episode is presented by Flavorman, the beverage architects.
During BevNET and NOSH’s second Cannabis Forum for Food & Beverage, held June 14 in New York City, thought leaders and entrepreneurs from across the emerging industry gathered to clear up some of the noise around a handful of the biggest current questions and challenges in the space, from brand building and tax codes to product design and testing.
REBBL CEO Sheryl O’Loughlin announced her resignation this week after a four year tenure with the plant-based beverage brand. Former thinkThin CEO Michele Kessler will assume the chief executive position effective today.
